A wordle from all of the novel I've typed so far... I'm a little ashamed that "eyes" is bigger than Lu or Pavan (my main characters)...

Too addicting. I need to get back to writing.

Dear God, or again, to whoever's hangin around up there at the moment,

Thanks. I owe you one.

It was a really great show.

-Karen

Since this is all I have to talk about... this is all I will talk about!!

Wow I'm actually keeping up with my wordcount in NaNoWriMo...

11683 / 50000 words. 23% done!

*knocks on wood*

I am in fact a huge geek for participating in NaNoWriMo this year. But so far I'm right on track. \o/

4046 / 50000 words. 8% done!


Winnar!! ... or maybe not :P

I'm finally getting payed for not only my music but my artwork as well...


I'm totally a big kid now. :) 




For those of you wondering, the above-mentioned Mommy is doing pretty good.. the chemo seems to really be helping!! That was really totally unexpected but it's a blessing just the same and right now we'll take whatever we can get... At least she's not in totally demoralizing, crippling pain anymore.

I keep wanting to update about all the really bad and really good things that have been beating the crap out of me this summer... but every time I open the update window, I just don't have the words.

Maybe someday soon.

So some of you know that I got engaged on July 3rd while on vacation with Jimmy and his family on Lake George..


Apparently, that was also the day that my dog, Polly's, health really started to go downhill.  Previous to that, she would not eat for three days and then, when they took her to the vet, she had a fever so high, they couldn't get it down and when they transferred her to an emergency vet the next morning, they determined she had some sort of cancer that was releasing toxins into her faster than the antibiotics could fight it off.

Somehow I knew she was going to be gone by the time I got back.  Before I left, I had to run back in the house for something else and I just felt I needed to say goodbye to her...  And I knelt down and gave her a big hug and asked her to stick around until I got back.  But if she needed to go that she should just go and not suffer... 

She passed away on Saturday, July 4th.  I hope she didn't suffer.  I hope she knew how happy I was at that very same moment.

And I hope she's treating Pepper and P Penelope Puppy alright in the big dog-park in the sky.


Goodbye, my doggy-wog Polly-wog.  I will miss you.


Rest in Peace, Pollyanna Slagle.

On my way to BOSTON!! And then a short jaunt through New York to Lake George.

I'm hoping to have time to hang out with Z and Nick maybe.  I'll call you guys!

Gosh a lot has happened in the past 2 weeks.  I got back from Rochester and got a storm of calls from a Dallas Suzuki teacher moving to Wisconsin and several moms involved with her studio.  In the end it looks like I'm gonna have at least 25 students.  Then I heard this commercial about how Cousin's Pianos in Garland was going out of business and stopped by there a couple days ago.  Voila.  I have now invested in a new 6'1" Pramberger grand to go alongside my little 5'7" Kawai (for about $10,200 including tax.  an extremely awesome deal, I must say.)  It's got excellent tone and really easy action for little fingers.  My parents floated me a loan for that one but now I'm talking to a commercial real estate agent and my old piano teacher's husband has volunteered not only his services as a business consultant (drawing up insurance and liability as well as a retirement plan) but has also offered to help me remodel whatever studio space I end up in for this little venture.  Since he is also a minor contractor on the side he has all sorts of contract and wholesale connections which will allow me to do this very cheaply  (comparitively)  Now I just have to get a space and his estimate and I can go to the bank to take out a small business loan and get everthing rolling.

I feel like things are just whizzing by!! o_o  

Now here are my questions.  I want to have internet access and phone in the studio.  I was thinking of getting Roadrunner (or cable modem equivalent) for internet and a cell phone as my business number so I can always be available (and have a local number for my business line)  My Dad is trying to talk me into DSL with a landline for the phone.  But... I don't think I want a landline.  Can you even silence those phones? I can't have them ringing during a lesson.  Cell phones can be silenced.  And like I said I can be accessable much more often.  ... Advice?

Also what kind of cell phone should I be looking for?  I think I'm gonna get a new one anyway and I dunno how complicated I need to make it.  I mean.. do I really need to go so far as to get a BlackBerry sort of phone?  I'm going to be using this laptop as my business computer so I'm pretty sure I have all the portable functionality I would need in just that.  I don't know.  Again I am in need of advice.  

Pearce.  I'm giving you a pointed stare from over her.  You're a business guru type.  Help meeeeeeee.

Now to come up with my own estimates for the cost of all the other stuff I need to put together. So many things on my list!!

I just saw a midnight showing of Up!...

Go.  See.  It.  Right.  Now.


I'm waffling about putting it on par with Finding Nemo on my Pixar rating list.  I seriously think it is one of the best movies they have ever done.  Particularly since they made the 3D such an integral part and didn't resort to cheap "OMG POP IN YOUR FACE" effects.  


The storytelling is excellent.  I laughed, I cried.  It was beautiful.  Any movie would have to be a doozy to beat them for best animated feature this year.  Not that much has beat them .. recently...  ... at all...  ever.


Yay Pixar.

Hehe... Drawing is fun again :3 


So is not being in school.  At least it will be fun until I realize I'm broke and need a job.

Since I've been kinda neglecting my LJ updates.. (but not reading!) .. I thought I'd weigh in and brag a little more about finishing my Master's degree.


I FINISHED MY MASTER'S DEGREE!!! Yes.  You may call me master if you wish.  Karen Slagle, MMEd \o/


Also my final GPA is a 3.821. .. That's pretty spankin good!! Probably the highest GPA I've ever had.  Unless you count Middle School.  I'm pretty sure I had a 4.0.


Yes.  Cap, Gown and Hood with lovely pink embellishments.  I thought it was gonna clash with the gown but.. I dunno it's not so bad.  It looks pretty swanky actually.  which is why I can only afford to RENT all the accoutrements.  Geez Louise is it expensive to buy it.  If I ever teach at the University level I'll have to go ahead and blow the bucks though *sigh*  Oh well.  I guess we shall see when that day comes.

For those of you wondering, yes, I have picked up a few old projects in my free time :)  Although I've also been heavily engrossed in Fable II.

And now to go pick up all the guest passes...

I'm not sure what to make of this.. but it's sitting in my SMU inbox

Hope they get their Vader back.  It must be lonely without the Dark Side.

Wow school ends early this year.

Ordered my cap, gown and hood and everything already. 

But I've still got to finish all my 5 major projects before May 9th! X_X  Let's see what happens, shall we?

I can see the finish line!.. I CAN SEE IT!!! .. with binoculars :P

Wish me luck.

So.  I never put much credit towards the Mozart Effect.  And I still don't.

However... Listening to Bach Fugues and having a fat fuzzy orange cat snuggled up to me is really helping me focus on these stupid exit exams. 

Just gotta keep swimming!! >:

Well school starts back up this week.  And so do exit exams. 

If you don't see me around, it's possibly because I'm burying myself in a stack of books studying and writing essays for my comprehensives.


Oh how I can't wait for school to be over.

For at least 2 years!! >:


Also I'm realizing how much money I splurged this last weekend XD Good thing I've been doing some saving too!

It was all worth it for Chelsea's wedding though ;_;  So beautiful!!   I might post pictures of me with floofy hair and perdy dress soon.

Stolen from calli :P


Rock on.